NZ woman admits suffocating her baby

A YOUNG New Zealand woman has admitted seriously harming her baby after suffocating her several times in her first two months of life, three while breastfeeding.

The woman was charged after the baby's airway was obstructed at least four times following her birth on October 7, 2010, causing her to go blue and require hospital treatment.

The accused woman, now 20, admitted a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with reckless disregard when she appeared in the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday.

Police state in the summary of facts that the woman, 18 at the time, told both her midwife, her mother and the baby's father that she was not coping with the baby days after she was born.

When the baby was four days old, she became still and blue while her mother was trying to breastfeed her while using the computer. The child was taken to hospital and discharged after three hours with a diagnosis of "possible wind".

On November 20 the baby's airway became obstructed again while the woman was breastfeeding her and was taken to Waitakere Hospital.

While recovering, the baby and her mother were put in a room by themselves, where the baby's airway was again obstructed during breastfeeding.

She was eventually resuscitated and spent three days at Starship Hospital, where paediatricians couldn't find a medical explanation.

The baby was discharged on November 24 but recalled a day later by staff concerned for her health. While there, her airway was again obstructed while alone with her mother.

"Medical staff have stated that each incident was a major, life-threatening event in (the baby's) young life," the summary says.

The baby was discharged into Child, Youth and Family care on December 2 and placed with her grandmother when nine months old.